VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Stock Comparison

AMETEK, Inc. vs Paychex, Inc.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

AMETEK, Inc.

AME · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$48.8B
Gross margin (TTM)36.2%
Operating margin (TTM)26.2%
Net margin (TTM)20.5%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
66/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into AMETEK, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AME analysis

Paychex, Inc.

PAYX · NASDAQ Global Select Market

Market cap (USD)$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)37.1%
Net margin (TTM)26.5%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryStaffing & Employment Services
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-04
Moat score
66/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Paychex, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View PAYX analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score: both at 66 / 100.
  • Segment focus: AMETEK, Inc. has 2 segments (67.1% in Electronic Instruments Group (EIG)); Paychex, Inc. has 3 segments (73% in Management Solutions).
  • Primary market structure: Oligopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Strong vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: AMETEK, Inc. has 3 moat types across 1 domains; Paychex, Inc. has 7 across 4.

Primary market context

AMETEK, Inc.

Electronic Instruments Group (EIG)

Market

Advanced analytical, test and measurement instruments

Geography

Global

Customer

B2B (process, industrial, aerospace, medical, research)

Role

Instrument/OEM supplier

Revenue share

67.1%

Paychex, Inc.

Management Solutions

Market

Payroll processing and integrated HCM solutions for SMB and mid-market employers

Geography

United States (primarily)

Customer

Employers (SMB and mid-market)

Role

HCM SaaS + outsourced payroll/HR service provider

Revenue share

73%

Side-by-side metrics

AMETEK, Inc.
Paychex, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AME - New York Stock Exchange
PAYX - NASDAQ Global Select Market
Market cap (USD)
$48.8B
$39.4B
Gross margin (TTM)
36.2%
73.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
26.2%
37.1%
Net margin (TTM)
20.5%
26.5%
Sector
Industrials
Industrials
Industry
Industrial - Machinery
Staffing & Employment Services
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Electronic Instruments Group (EIG)
Management Solutions
Market structure
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Strong
Moderate
Moat score
66 / 100
66 / 100
Moat domains
Supply
Demand, Supply, Legal, Financial
Last update
2026-01-02
2026-01-04

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

No overlap yet.

AMETEK, Inc. strengths

Capex Knowhow ScaleOperational ExcellenceScope Economies

Paychex, Inc. strengths

Data Workflow LockinSuite BundlingService Field NetworkCompliance AdvantageUnderwriting Risk PoolingSwitching Costs GeneralFloat Prepayment

Segment mix

AMETEK, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Electronic Instruments Group (EIG)

Oligopoly

67.1%

Electromechanical Group (EMG)

Competitive

32.9%

Paychex, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Management Solutions

Oligopoly

73%

PEO and Insurance Solutions

Competitive

24.1%

Client funds float (interest on funds held for clients)

Oligopoly

2.9%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.